"It’s Always the End of the World as We Know It"

Lovely op-ed by Denis Dutton. It's mostly about a great disaster that wasn't--Y2K--but it makes a more general point:

The theme of our fancy inventions ultimately destroying us has been a favorite in fiction at least since Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” We can place alongside this a continuous succession of spectacular films built on visions of the end of the world. Such end-time fantasies must have a profound, persistent appeal in order to keep drawing wide-eyed crowds into movie theaters, as historically they have drawn crowds into churches, year after year. 

Comments

[kyle8]

I wonder what the fearmongers will decide is the next big thing after 2012 comes and goes.

[Michael Greenspan]

I was one of those panicked by the warnings about Y2K. Embarrassing now to recall my credulity. Partly in consequence, no doubt, I'm as skeptical as Mr. Dutton about the danger of human-aggravated "climate change." And yet, I fear a nuclear-armed Iran like the warmists fear their bogeyman. And I can point to the rise of Nazi Germany (I know, Godwin's Law -- sue me) as evidence that sometimes dire threats do crop up. So though I get Mr. Dutton's point, I find myself believing again that a great, possibly catastrophic danger faces us. Maybe in another ten years I'll be laughing about this one too. Meanwhile, here's to the overthrow of the mullahcracy: may it come soon.